Electrode holder



April 29, 1947. R JEPSON g 2,419,560

ELECTRODE HOLDER Filed April 2l, 1944 4,4 Jol-5 'Z- 'i' 'Z /oV E L- k@L 5a l 46 Percy de/oon Patented Apr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRODE HOLDER Percy Jepson, Oakland, Calif.

Application April 21, 1944, Serial No. 532,066

9 Claims. 1

My present invention relates to new and useful electrode holders and particularly to a hand actuable device for holding electrodes or welding rods for electric welding.

In electrode holders heretofore commonly ernployed the electrode is connected to the holder in but one position necessitating resort to the objectionable practice of bending the electrode in many uses of the rod. Furthermore, the grip of the holder on the electrode in devices now in use is uncertain and unreliable and the electrical connection thus frequently unsatisfactory.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a holder which will per mit efficient and satisfactory connection ci the electrode in any one of a plurality of positions of varying angular relation with the axis of the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide an electrode holder which inherently provides a highly efficient electric contact, as to area of contact surface and contact pressure between the contact member of the holder and the electrode in all connection positions of the latter.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrode holder in which the tip shell is provided with a multiplicity of electrode receiving apertures, the peripheral walls of which Provide abutments at various angles to the longitudinal axis of the device against which the rod can be clamped firmly.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provisonrof an electrode holder having an electric contact member formed with a plurality of angularly related contact surfaces.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an electrode holder of simplified construction consisting of a minimum number of easily assembled parts.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of my invention, and are such as may be attained by a utilization of the various novel principles, combinations and sub-combinations hereinafter set forth, and defined by the scope of the appended claims in the various relations to which they are applicable by persons skilled in the art.

As shown in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the assembled device.

Figure 2 is a View in longitudinal section as seen on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation of the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in transverse section as seen on line 4 4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged view in transverse section as seen on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmental elevation of the forward portion of the contact stem.

Figure 7 is a fragmental View in longitudinal section showing a modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a fragmental View mainly in longitudinal section showing another modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing:

l0 designates a handle which may advantageously be of tubular form and of electric insulating material such as'that known commercially as Bakelite At the forward part the handle is formed to provide a diametrically reduced exteriorly threaded neck portion H. The handle has a smooth bore extending longitudinally therethrough.

Mounted in the forward end of the handle I0 is an electric conducting member indicated in its entirety at `2l). Said member embodies a cylindrical shank portiton 2l having a turning fit in the neck Il. At the front end of this shank is formed an annular stop flange 22 disposed to abut the end of the neck to limit the inward movement of said shank portion. By reference to Figure 2 of the drawing it will be seen that the shank has an interiorly screw threaded bore 23 opening through its rear end and having a decreasing taper forwardly inthe shank to provide a socket effective to engage an electric cable extended through the bore of the handle and screwed in said socket. Formed integral with and extending axially forward of the shank 2| is a stem portion 24 of cylindrical form from its juncture with the shank to a point short of its forward extremity and preferably of smaller diameter than the shank. That part of the stem forward of its cylindrical portion is shaped to provide a nose having a plurality of adjoining circumferential surfaces of varying angles of taper terminating in a at end face 25 in a plane transverse to the axis of the stern. Thus, this end part constitutes a nose having, in the present example, three frustoconical surfaces 26, 21 and 28 of successively decreasing angles of taper from the end face inward, as illustrated at Figure 6. It will be understood that the number and particular angles of taper of the nose may be varied to suit particular conditions of use.

The holder also embodies a tip or clamping piece designated in its entirety at 30 and, in the illustrated embodiment of the device, in the form of a generally tubular shell. 'Ihis shell has a rearward length 3l of cylindrical construction while its forward portion 32, of reduced length, is of conoidal conguration having, for example, the characteristics of a paraboloid. The front end of the shell is provided with an aperture 33 opening into the interior and into a pair of grooves 34, of V-shaped cross section, extending axially in diametrically opposed relation in the shell wall within the conoidal length 32. In addition to the aperture 33 the shell is provided with apertures 35, 36, 31, 38 and 3.9. Apertures or openings 35 and 36 are preferably disposed in diametrically opposed relation at the juncture of the conoidal and cylindrical portions of the shell and said apertures have a common axis transverse to that of the holder parts. The other apertures are formed at suitable axially and angularly spaced intervals and extend obliquely through the shell wall as illustrated.v The interior of the cylindrical portion 3l is screw threaded, as indicated at M, to engage the external threads of the handle neck Il. As will be noted from Figure 2, the electrode engaging shell and the contact stem are mounted co-axially with the handle.

In a modiiication ofthe device, shown at Figure '7, the stem is resiliently retractible to effect yielding contact with the electrode. This is accomplished by means of an open spiral spring 42 sleeved about the forward part of the shank 2l and held between the forward end of the neck H and the flange 22. Thus, when the electrode is pressed into conductive connection with the stem the spring 42 is brought under compression and exerts spring pressure upon the connection.

In another modiiication of the invention, shown in Figure 8, the conducting member 26 is associated with the neck i l of the handle lil in such manner that the shank portion 2i is free to slide axially in the neck but is restrained against rotation or angular movement therein. With this in mind the neck l I is formed with Van inwardly projecting longitudinally elongated key forming projection 45 at its forward end. The shank 2l of the conducting member is provided with achannel 46, opening exteriorly thereof and extending longitudinally from its rear end to the stop Flange 22. This channel constitutes a key way designed to slidably receive the key 45 therein. Thus, the sliding, non-rotary connection of the conducting member with the handle enables rotation or turning of stem 26, iixed to the for ward end of shank 2l, with relation to an electrode (carried on the clamping shell) with which it makes contact in order to remove film from and brighten the contacting surfaces. The construction just described may be used when the flange 22 abuts against the handle end, as in Figure 2, or where a spring is interposed between said flange and said end as in Figure T1.

In the use of the present invention, an electrode, indicated at 50, may be connected with the holder by inserting one end through the aperture 35 and into the complementary aperture 36 with the shell adjusted to its forwardposi-` tion. Thereafter the shell is turned to adjust the same rearwardly with relation to the handle and to carry the electrode to -a position wherein that part medially or^ its inserted portionl is forced against the end face of the stein. Such adjustlnent may be carried to the extent of .flexing the electrode, that is, to bow the portion within the 'shell as indicated at 51 -inlFigure 2, the in holder.

herent resilience of which will insure a firm electrical contact between the rod and the nose. The connection thus eiected iirmly grips the electrode with its axisextending at an angle of approximately with the axis of the shell. By inserting the electrode through aperture 31, in oblique position, with its inner end bearing against the grooved part of the opposite wall or engaging the edge of aperture 36 it can be brought into contact with the tapered contact surface 26 of the stem and held at an angle of about 60 with the axis of the shell longitudinally of the To obtain an angular relation of 45 between the electrode and the holder the electrode is inserted through aperture 38 and makes contact `with the stem surface 21. Connection of the electrode by insertion through the opening 39 mounts the same at an angle of about 75. When inserted through the axial end aperture 33 the electrode may be disposed to engage either of the grooves 3d at a selected point along the length thereof and 'contacts with one of the frusto-conical surface areas to assume a desired angular position with relation to the axis of the holder. 'I'he conoidal longitudinal curvature of the forward part of the shell enables flexing of the electrode in all of its positions upon relative rotation of the shell with respect to the handle. It will thus be noted that in each of its varied positions the electrode makes highly eicient electrical contact with the stem, both from the viewpoint of contact area and pressure and is firmly gripped in the holder, and that the rod may easily be clamped in the angular position best suited for convenient application of the electrode to the particular job to bev done.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or es'- sential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore, intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

i. An electrode holder comprising a tubular handle, a conducting member having a portion iitting into the forward end of the handle and adapted for connection with a cable, a contact stem on the front end of the conducting member, said stern having a transverse front end face and a plurality o'i truste-conical vsurfaces of successively decreasing angles of taper contiguous with said front face, and a tubular shellconnected with the handle having a plurality of apertures adapted to selectively receive an electrode and to hold the same in contact with a selectedsurface cn the stem in any one of a plurality oi angularly disposed positions.

2. An electrode holder comprising a hollow handle, a contact element having a socket formed to receive hold an electric cable, slidably mounted in one end of said handle so that said element protrudes therefrom, and a clamping member threadedly mounted o-n said handle surrounding spaced from said element, said member providing a plurality of pairs of spaced angularly related `electrode engaging 'surfaces at opposite sides of said contact element whereby upon adjustment of said clamping member with respect to said Contact element sadelectrode may be flexed between said surfaces to insure rm and suicient electrical contact between the electrode and contact element in the selected angular relation of the electrode to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

3. In an electrode holder having a handle, a Contact member carried by the handle and having a series of adjoining coaxial frusto-conical electrode-engaging surfaces of successively decreasing angles of taper for cooperation with electrode clamping means on the handle.

4. In an electrode holder having a conductive contact carrying handle, a tubular shell connected with the handle in coacting relation with the contact and having a conoidal portion decreasingly tapered to an open front end, said conoidal portion having a plurality of circumferentially spaced internal grooves extending longitudinally therein from said open end to position the end of an electrode for holding engagement by the contact to dispose the electrode in any one of a multiplicity of positions in varying angular relation with the longitudinal axis of the shell.

5. In an electrode holder having a handle, a Contact member supported axially of the handle and having a series of frusta-conical surfaces of successively decreasing angles of taper, and a tubular shell supported on the handle, said shell having a conoidal portion increasingly tapered to an open front end and cooperative with the contact member for holding an eelctrode inserted therein through the front opening in a plurality of positions of varying angular relation with the longitudinal axis of the contact member.

6. In an electrode holder, an electrode engaging contact, a tubular electrode positioning member enclosing said contact, and means connecting said contact and member for relative adjustment axially of said member, said member having an electrode receiving opening and being provided with internal means engageable by the inserted end of an electrode to selectively position the electrode through said opening at any one of 6 and said internal means comprises contiguous ax'- ially successive electrode engaging surfaces disposed at progressively decreasing angle inwardly from said opening with respect to the axis of said member.

8. In an electrode holder, a handle and a tu- -bular electrode clamping member connected with one end thereof for relative axial adjustment, a contact mounted in the handle and projecting therefrom within the clamping member, said member at its forward end having an aperture and an internal surface extending rearwardly from said aperture in progressively increasing spaced relation from the axial centerline of said contact, whereby an electrode end inserted through said aperture may be clamped between said contact point and a point on said internal surface at a selected angle relative to the axis of said clamping member.

9. In an electrode holder, a handle and a tubular electrode clamping member connected with one end thereof for relative axial adjustment, a contact mounted in the handle and projecting therefrom within the clamping member, said member having diametrically opposed electrode receiving apertures and additional apertures 1ongitudinally spaced from said iirst named apertures, through which an electrode may be selectively inserted with its end engaged in-one of said first named apertures, whereby the electrode may be releasably clamped in engagement with said contact in any one of a plurality of angular p0- sitions with respect to the axis of the holder.

P. JEPSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,118,274 Sweda May 24, 1938 2,175,871 Bourne Oct. 10, 1939 2,233,618 Leach Mar. 4, 1941 2,282,316 Albert May 12, 1942 2,294,033 Hooper et al Aug. 25, 1942 2,328,067 Forgett Aug. 31, 1943 2,330,931 Staiord Oct. 5, 1943 2,220,783 Fitch Nov. 5, 1940 1,348,530 Willard Aug. 3, 1920 1,337,662 La Porte Apr. 20, 1920 

